Girt brace for derricks



Sept. 27, 1927-. 1,643,888

C. J. GOUGLER GIRT BRACE FOR DERRICKS Filed Nov. 25, 1925 HF 58 /4- 9 Qwwmtoc [LBEIE I. Bungle? Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES CLYDE J. GOUGLER, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

GIRT BRACE-FOR DERRICKS.

Application filed November 25, 1925. Serial no. 71,352.

The present invention relates to girt braces particularly for use in oil well derricks and the like.

1' An object of the present invention is to provide an improved brace for use in connection with the girts of wooden derricks, such as used in oil well work and wherein relatively heavy strains and considerable v1- bration are imposed upon the derricktending to loosen the parts thereof and tending to warp or twist the derrick frame or tower.

Another object of the invention isto provide an improved corner brace which may comprise for the most part wooden struts or compression members and novel attaching devices for securing the ends of the braces to the sides ofxthe girt. This feature of the invention permits the utilization of the stock pieces of wood used in the construction of a derrick tower for making up the brace, the attaching means at the endsof the brace being peculiarly constructed for interconnecting the parts in an efficient and rigid manner.

The invention also aims to provide a corner brace for girts which may be slipped downwardly into position and limited in its downward movement and interlocked with the sides of the girt by such downward movement. The ends of the girt are provided with interlocking means which subsequently may be tightened to securely hold the girt from removal after it has been adjusted.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment thesame being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the girt of a derrick tower, the legs or uprights of the tower being shown in section, and braces constructed according being shown as applied to the girt.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of one corner of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary further enlarged inner edge view of the corner portion shown in Fig. 2 the same also comprising a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a brace secured to the adjacent portions of the girt.

to the present invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5+5 of Fig. and

Fig. 6 isa further enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing 10 designates the legs or standards of a tower such as is used in oil well derricks and the like. The tower is reinforced by one or more horizontal girts 11 which comprise elongated relatively wide strips which extend between the djacent standards 10 and provide alsubstantially right angular horizontal frame for interb-racing the standards10'upon one another. i I

For the purpose of reinforcing the girt 11 the same is provided along the inner faces of the sides thereof with an inner rectangu lar fraine formed of wooden pieces 12 which are known as 4 X els, although pieces of other dimensions may be used. These pieces 12 are arranged for engagement with one another at opposite ends to fit snugly within the girt 11' and reinforce the sides thereof from buckling. i i In order to maintain the girt from twisting or from loosening at its corners, the girt is provided in each corner with a brace. The brace comprises a bar or strut 13 which is preferably of the same cross-sectional dimensions of that of the pieces 12, and which is provided with opposite bevelled ends 14 adapted to seat flat against the inner sides of the pieces 12 and maintain the cross pieces 13 in a definite position with respect to the corner of the girt. The cross piece 13 of each brace is provided with connecting iron 15, the same comprising an angle iron having one flange engaging across and s ated in the upper side of the cross iece 13 while its other flange engages across and is seated or countersunk in the exposed or outer face of the cross piece 13, fastening devices 16 of any suitable type being utilized for securing the connecting iron to the cross piece. The upper flange of the corner iron is elongated and extends directly outward beyond the bevelled end 14 of the cross piece 13 to provide a supporting lip 17 which rests upon the upper edge of the side pieces 12 to support the cross piece 13 thereon and limit the downward movement of the cross piece between the adjacent side pieces 12.

The other flange of the connecting iron is provided with an elongated lip 18 which extends outwardly from its flange but which is bent forwardly at substantially an angle of forty-five degrees to the cross piece 13 to engage against the inner sides of the pieces 12 and lie fiat thereagainst. The lips 18 are provided with vertical slots 19 therein which opens through the lower edges of the lips and provide sockets for receiving bolts 20 which are carried through the girt 11 and the reinforcing side pieces 12. These bolts 20 have heads 21 at their outer ends which engage the outer sides of the girt 11, and the bolts 20 extend through the reinforcing side pieces 12 to hold them in place. Binding nuts 22 are placed upon the inner ends of the bolts 20 and are adapted to be tightened up against the lips 18 to bind all of the parts firmly together.

It will be appreciated that the cross piece 13 may be readily sawed from stock material readily obtainable from the lumber used in the construction of the derrick, and the connecting irons or pieces may be readily applied to the cross pieces 13 after they have been cut, the braces may be easily slipped downwardly into place and then clamped into position by the bolts 20 and their nuts 22.

It is of course understood that it is within the spirit of this invention to make all such changes and modifications in the details of construction and design as are permitted within'the scope of the appended claims,

l Vhat is claimed is: p

1. In a tower, standards, a girt connecting said standards, a bracing frame inwardly of said girt, cross pieces arranged in the corners of said inner frame and having bevelled ends to abut against the inner sides of said inner frame. bolts extending transversely through the girt and inner frame, and connecting pieces mounted on the opposite ends of the cross pieces and provided with flanges projecting beyond the ends of the cross pieces to bear upon said inner frame and support the cross pieces therein, said connecting pieces also havingoutwardly bent flanges lying against the inner sides of the inner frame and having socket slots opening through the lower edges thereof for receiving said bolts therein for binding the outturned flanges against the inner frame. I

2. A girt brace comprising a bar beveled at ends with the bevel faces in diverging relation fromone side of the bar, an angle iron secured to each end of the bar, one leg of each angle iron being straight and having a portion secured flat to the top of the bar with another portion of said leg extending beyond the bevel face ofthe bar, and the other leg of each angle iron having a portion secured flat to one side of the bar and having another portion in angular relation to the last mentioned side of the bar and parallel to the adjacent bevel face.

CLYDE J. GOUGLER, 

